A powerful snowstorm, described by forecasters as the strongest in a decade, has disrupted travel for millions across the northeastern United States after Christmas. The storm dumped over two feet of snow in many areas, with a record three feet recorded in Warwick, Rhode Island. Thousands of flights were cancelled, and hundreds of thousands of people lost power.
As roads and mass transportation begin to recover, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani insisted on reopening schools on Tuesday. However, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella argued schools should remain closed, and Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, called the situation “a big mess,” predicting low attendance due to travel difficulties.
The storm also sparked a massive snowball fight in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park, where a viral video showed NYPD officers being pelted with snowballs. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the behaviour as “disgraceful” and “criminal.” Meanwhile, forecasters warn that another major winter storm may be approaching.
